Maybe you've heard sayings like this, "good night, sweet dreams, and don't get bitten by bed bugs," but not many people can recognize bed bug bites. In fact, bed bug bites are impossible to diagnose without making sure they are in your bed. The best way to recognize bed bug bites is to watch for bug bites or red welts on your skin. Meanwhile, to make sure the bite is caused by bed bugs, you should look for signs of bed bugs in your bed.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Checking the Bite
Step 1. Observe the bite on your skin
Note the presence of small bumps that are slightly different in color with a diameter of 0.2-0.5 cm. You may also find welts or hives that are redder than the surrounding skin. If you have a more severe and rare case, blisters larger than 0.5 cm may be found on the skin of the bed bug bite.
1 cm is equal to 0.4 inches
Step 2. Look for a new bite when you wake up
If you have flea bites or itchy welts on your skin when you wake up, chances are you have bed bugs. Observe whether the bite resembles a mosquito or fly bite. Bed bug bites are often red, slightly swollen and itchy, and are as irritating as other flea bites. Watch for bite lines that resemble lines or spread randomly as bed bugs will bite several times a night.
If you get bitten again during the day, it's probably not bed bugs
Step 3. Pay attention to the location of the bite
Watch for bites on exposed layers of skin while you sleep. Also, check for bites under loose layers of clothing. You also need to know that bed bugs will avoid the soles of the feet. So, the bite in that area is probably not caused by bed bugs.
Step 4. Watch for signs of allergies
If you are allergic to bed bugs, your skin may develop a rash or hives similar to eczema or a yeast infection. Also, pay attention to whether the bite gets bigger, swells until it hurts, or even oozes pus. These are common signs of an allergy to bed bug bites.
- Keep in mind that it can take your body at most 2 weeks for it to fully react to a bed bug bite.
- If you have a severe reaction to a bed bug bite, talk to your doctor.
Method 2 of 3: Checking the Bed
Step 1. Look for live lice in the mattress
Look for a reddish-brown insect that has no wings and a flat body about 0.1-0.7cm in size. Check the folds of mattresses and sheets for bed bugs. Also, look for any exoskeletons that may have detached from the tick's body. Also look for small white eggs or shells that are about 0.1 cm in size, or bed bug larvae of similar size.
Remember that 0.4 cm is equal to 1/10 of an inch
Step 2. Check the sheets
Look for reddish or brown stains on the sheets. These stains may be caused by the flea's crushed body or its droppings. Wipe any dark or red spots on your sheets. If the color fades or spreads, it's likely caused by bedbug droppings.
Step 3. Check the bed frame
Watch for signs of bed bugs on the bed frame and gaps between the bed and the walls. Also, look for bed bugs around the headrest. Look for bed bugs in the seams, grooves, and labels of sheets, mattresses, and mattress pads. Also be sure to check the inside of the pillowcase or small pillow on your bed.
Step 4. Check the condition of the bed
In less extreme cases, bed bugs can even live even if they are invisible to the naked eye. Consider the life of the mattress and the cleanliness of the sheets. If this happens in a hotel, check for plastic coating on the mattress. If the mattress is not covered with plastic, the chances of bed bugs are even greater.
Method 3 of 3: Looking for Other Signs of Bedbugs
Step 1. Watch for bed bugs on other furniture
Check under the sofa cushions. Also check the seams of the chairs and sofas. Also, check the connections on the drawer.
Step 2. Check other places
Look for bed bugs behind peeling wallpaper or loose wall hangings. Observe the inside of the power plug, as well as at the gap where the wall meets the roof and floor. Also, look for bed bugs in the folds of the curtains.
Step 3. Smell the place you suspect
Note the slightly sweet and musty smell. You may also be able to smell a coriander-like scent or the stench left by fleas. If the place smells damp like an old house, or smells like the one above, bed bugs may indeed live there.
